NJ Prescription Monitoring Program
Improvements Announced to the NJ Prescription Monitoring Program
Expansion of Prescription Monitoring Program (NJPMP) to Include Interstate Data-Sharing: New Jersey’s PMP is successfully collaborating with the following 12 states:
- South Carolina
- Minnesota
- Rhode Island
- Virginia
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Maine
- West Virginia
Some background on NJPDMP
Launched Mobile App: In April 2015, New Jersey launched the first-in-the-nation mobile app that allows authorized practitioners to conduct NJPMP searches on smartphones and other mobile devices, enabling them to bring this tool directly into their everyday patient care. Did you know there is a mobile app for the NJPMP?
New Jersey established the NJPMP database in September 2011. To date, the NJPMP contains more than 72.9 million records of prescription drug prescribing and dispensing, including prescriptions for Human Growth Hormone (HGH). The NJPMP is available to all licensed healthcare practitioners who are authorized by the State of New Jersey to prescribe or dispense CDS medications. Since the PMP’s inception in 2011, more than 8.9 million requests were conducted by New Jersey users.
The program was last expanded in April 2016 when Governor Christie announced that New York and New Jersey were combining forces to enhance Prescription Monitoring Programs.
- NJPMP data shows that prescribers in New Jersey are successfully making use of the ability to view cross-border prescription data. In 2016, the interstate hub enabled 1,015,897 prescriber data requests between New Jersey and our interstate partners, a 512 percent increase from 2015.
- During the first five months of 2017, the interstate hub enabled a total of 824,138 prescriber data requests between New Jersey and our interstate partners, a 274 percent increase from the same period in 2016.
Information on Medicine Drop Programs
Project Medicine Drop: In New Jersey, the Project Medicine Drop program has been an important component of efforts to halt the abuse and diversion of prescription drugs by providing consumers with an opportunity to discard unused prescription medications every day throughout the year at participating law enforcement agencies. Having drop-off points at police departments, sheriff’s offices, State Police stations, military installations, and college public safety agencies across New Jersey allows citizens to safely dispose of their unused, excess or expired prescription medications before they fall into the wrong hands.
- Since its launch in 2011, Project Medicine Drop (PMD) has resulted in the collection of 157,162 pounds – or just over 78 tons - of unused medications. For 2016 alone, 68,200 pounds of prescription drugs were dropped off at collection locations throughout the state. And, in just the first quarter of 2017, more than 19,300 pounds have been collected.
- To date, 227 stationary drop boxes and 160 mobile drop boxes have been issued statewide.
Expansion of the Project Medicine Drop: In April 2015, Governor Christie signed legislation advancing the continuation of the Department of Law & Public Safety’s (L&PS) Project Medicine Drop. In addition, the legislation provided for future expansion of the program at the funding discretion of the Department. It also required L&PS to post on its website a list of all secure prescription medicine drop-off locations, including receptacles maintained by the Division of Consumer Affairs, as well as any receptacle located in New Jersey that is approved by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
Walgreens Collaboration: In December 2016, Governor Christie visited the Walgreen’s pharmacy in East Brunswick to announce a collaboration with Walgreen’s for their Safe Medication Disposal Program. Their efforts are the first of their kind by a nationwide retailer to provide a safe and convenient way to dispose of unwanted, unused or expired prescriptions, including controlled dangerous substances (CDS), and over-the-counter medications at no cost. A list of all safe medication disposal box locations can be found here.